Sanders

HOLLIDAYSBURG — A city man on trial for attacking multiple customers at the 700 Chestnut Ave. Sheetz in June 2025 was convicted Friday afternoon of felony aggravated assault and related charges.

The jury of six men and six women deliberated for about 80 minutes before returning their unanimous verdict against Terrell Jarod Sanders, 41, who prosecutors showed via surveillance footage attacking three customers at the store in the early morning hours of June 28.

Following a day of testimony Thursday, which saw Sanders take the stand in his own defense, the jury pronounced Sanders guilty of a felony count of aggravated assault – attempts to cause serious bodily injury or causes injury with extreme indifference, two misdemeanor counts of simple assault and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.

Based on the jury’s verdicts, presiding President Judge Wade A. Kagarise found Sanders guilty of three summary counts of harassment and a summary count of public drunkenness.

Sanders was remanded to the Blair County Prison with bail revoked pending sentencing in front of Kagarise on June 12.

Before the trial reconvened Friday morning, Kagarise ruled on Chief Public Defender Julia Burke’s motion for judgment of acquittal that she made at the conclusion of the previous day’s testimony.

Burke had asked Kagarise to dismiss the single felony counts of aggravated assault and intimidating a witness, as well as single misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kagarise granted Burke’s request for dismissal in regards to the felony charges of intimidating a witness and misdemeanor drug charges but declined to dismiss the felony charge of aggravated assault. He said the third victim’s injuries paired with testimony given “warrants” giving the charge to the jury for deliberation.

In granting the dismissal of felony intimidating a witness, Kagarise said his decision came down to the timing of Sanders’ statements to the victims.

Kagarise said that while there “certainly appears to be use of force” in Sanders’ attacks, his threatening comments about calling police were made prior to committing aggravated and simple assault.

“The aggravated assault and simple assault hadn’t yet occurred,” Kagarise said.

He further explained that if the jury was charged with returning a verdict on the offense, they would “have to engage in inappropriate speculation” on what crime occurred and that a witness or victim couldn’t be intimidated for a crime that hadn’t yet happened.

Following Kagarise’s ruling, the jury heard closing arguments, starting with the defense.

Burke took the opportunity to address the jury to detail the differences between simple assault and aggravated assault, saying aggravated assault constituted “injury that could easily be life threatening.”

Burke said the third victim suffered no broken bones, required no stitches or bandages and his eyes moved normally.

“It appears no medical intervention was actually necessary,” Burke said.

In Assistant District Attorney Mark Bushnell’s closing arguments, he reminded the jury of the Sheetz employee’s statement that the assaults were “the worst she ever saw.”

“The defense’s argument that this was merely harassment just doesn’t fit here,” Bushnell said.

He told the jury that the word “attempt” in the charge was “operative” because “the Commonwealth doesn’t award failure.”

Bushnell also reminded the jury that Sanders had struck the second victim three times and the third victim about eight times, with five of those hits being to the third victim’s head.

Sanders “with all his weight” then proceeded to “stomp on (the third victim’s) head” before coming back a second time to strike the victim again, Bushnell said.

“That in itself is enough to sustain an aggravated assault conviction,” Bushnell said.

The jury ultimately agreed with the prosecution in handing down their unanimous verdicts.

Once the jury left the courtroom, Kagarise ordered a presentence investigation be completed by May 26 and for the DA’s Office to submit their sentencing guidelines by May 27.

Sanders faces additional charges in a separate but related case. In that case, he is charged with two misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and single misdemeanor counts of making terroristic threats, simple assault, intimidating a witness or victim, obstructing the administration of law enforcement and disorderly conduct. He also faces a summary criminal mischief charge.

Sanders is scheduled for a trial list review hearing on those charges in front of Kagarise at 1:15 p.m. April 16.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.